Continuing to engage with audiences through Cinema, Idea Cellular has announced ‘Raju Ban Gaya Director’, a mobile-based contest on its flagship digital property – www.IdeaPopcornStreet.com – to hunt for talent for film making.

The talent hunt will provide an opportunity to aspiring film directors to intern with Bollywood director Imtiaz Ali by taking part in the ‘short-movie making on mobile’ contest.

Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular elaborated, “Cinema is core to entertainment in India and forms a key genre of brand engagement for Idea. Our flagship Bollywood destination, Idea Popcorn Street, is designed keeping this insight in mind, and forms a unique and innovative platform, which not only entertains users but also encourages them to showcase their creativity. ‘Raju Ban Gaya Director’ is India’s first mobile hunt for film makers, and I am confident that this will provide a stepping board for many aspiring directors to demonstrate their talent and become famous.”

Speaking about the talent hunt, Imtiaz Ali said, “Gone are the days of the legendary ‘struggle’. For today’s generation, a great film is just a mobile phone away. And there are stories everywhere waiting to be captured, and opportunities waiting to be explored.”

In order to participate, the contestant needs to create an original concept movie of 1-3 minutes on the mobile phone and upload it on www.ideapopcornstreet.com. The Jury, comprising of experienced film makers, will shortlist the Top 30 films in the first round, which will then be put up on the portal for public viewing and voting. Basis the number of votes, the Top 10 films will be selected and the makers of these films will then be asked to create another 5-minute duration film, based on a script given by the Jury, which will once again have to be shot using a mobile phone. The directors will be given two weeks to make this film and will be required to promote and popularise their movie using social media.

These Top 10 movies will also be showcased on www.ideapopcornstreet.com as India’s first mobile film festival. Of these, the Top 4 film makers will be selected, who will then go through an interview with Imtiaz Ali and his team. The final winner will then get to spend time with the director on the sets of his next venture and get an opportunity to intern with him.